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Uganda Acquired Chem Weapons: U.K. Official

"I am informed that he has been arrested along with two Ugandan officials for supplying chemical and biological weapons to Uganda," an aide to a U.K. member parliament informed The Black Star News, referring to Tobiasen.

[Black Star News Exclusive]

A U.K. Member of Parliament is investigating allegations that a Danish national supplied chemical and biological weapons to Uganda, The Black Star News has learned.

The Danish national also appeared in a U.K. court charged with conspiring to launder money with top Uganda officials; it is believed that the proceeds may be tied to procurement of chemical and biological weapons by Uganda.

The Danish national, Niels Jorgen Tobiasen, appeared Monday in a Southwark, U.K., court in a preliminary hearing.

"I am informed that he has been arrested along with two Ugandan officials for supplying chemical and biological weapons to Uganda," an aide to a U.K. member of parliament informed The Black Star News, referring to Tobiasen. “I am also making urgent inquiries,” added the aide to the member of parliament.

Tobiasen was charged with “conspiracy to money launder,” between April 2007 and April 2008 “together with Ananias Tumukunde and Rusoke Tagaswire,” according to the indictment sheet obtained by The Black Star News. Additionally, Tobiasen “entered into an agreement knowing or suspecting that the arrangement would facilitate the acquisition, retention use or control of criminal property by or on behalf of another person,” according to the indictment sheet.

Tumukunde is a top advisor to Uganda president Yoweri K. Museveni on science and technology; Tagaswire is a Uganda military official.

There have been widespread allegations that chemical or biological weapons have been used to kill prominent Ugandans. Last year, when a top Uganda military official, Brigadier Noble Mayombo, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Defense died suddenly, there was much speculation as to what caused his demise.

Ironically, Tagaswire Rusoke, whose whereabouts are unknown, is now mentioned in the official U.K. indictment sheet. According to a media report, he is a bio-chemist with Masters degree in toxicology.

“It looks like the trial will be on September 22,” Russell Hayes, of the U.K. Crown Prosecution Services informed The Black Star News.

Tumukunde has been in custody since earlier this year. As previously reported by The Black Star News, U.K. prosecutors contend Uganda officials are not cooperating on the case; Uganda’s High Commissioner to the U.K. Joan Rwabyomere denies the charges.

Despite widespread reports of gross human rights abuse by Amnesty International and Human Rights watch, Uganda’s Museveni remains a Washington and London favorite. Critics also accuse his government of a genocidal policy that has confined nearly two million people in Acholi in wretched camps where a reported 1,000 people were dying per week.

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